Device for supplying heated vapor to internal-combustion engines



B. DOUGLAS. DEVICE FOR SUPPLYING HEATED VAPOR TOJNTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES.

. APPLICATION FILED DEILZB, I9I9. 1,373,603.

Patented Apr. 5, 1921..

2 SHEETSSHET I.

B. DOUGLAS. DEVICE FOR SUPPLYING HEATED VAPOR T0 INTERNAL'COMBUSTJON ENGINES.-

APPLICATION FILED DEC.23, I919.

Patented Apli '5, 1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

HTTO PNEYS.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BEVERLY DOUGLAS, or BALTIMORE, MARYLAND. i

Application filed December 23, 1919.

T 0 all w from it may concern Be it known that I, BEVE LY DOUGLAS, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Baltimore, in the State of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Devices for Supplying Heated Vapor to Internal-Combustion Engines; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification.

This invention relates to an improved means for admitting and controlling the admission of hot vapor to the fuel charge of internal combustion engines, the objects of the invention being to provide a practical form of mechanism which may be readily applied to well known types of popular motor cars. The invention embodies means whereby the driver may control and regulate the action and whereby the operation and rate at which hot vapor is admitted may be observed at any and all times. The indicator forobservation purposes is made an attractive feature calculated to enhance the pleasure of driving and enabling the driver to have the satisfaction of knowing that the apparatus is functioning correctly and, therefore, that the motor is operating at maximum efliciency for the existing conditions.

In the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 is a side elevation. partly in section and partly diagrammatic of a motor car engine pl ant and steering wheel and post with the invention adapted thereto.

Fig. 2 is an elevation looking at the opposite side of the engine plant from that shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a detail sectional elevation of the carburetor air intake showing the arrangement for discharging hot vapor into the same. i

Fig. 4c is asection on the line 4-4:, Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a sectional elevation of the in take and indicator mechanism of the hot vapor system. 7

Figs. 6 and 7 are sections respectively on the lines 6 6 and 77 of Fig.6.-

The engine plant adopted for illustrating the invention is one of the popular and extensively used types which, because of its well known construction, will need no description further than to say that A are the cylinders, B the crank case, C the transmis- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 5, 1921. Serial No. 346,919.

sioncase, and D the radiator and water reservoir communicating through pipes cl, (Z, wlth the water acket of the cylinder block. In F 2 the usual exhaust manifold E, intake manifold F and carbureter G are shown, and these parts withthe parts heretofore mentioned are intended to be utilized without change or alteration in adapting the present invention thereto;

In carrying the invention into practice, the hotvapor 1n the radiator or tank heated from the engine is preferably utilized, and for this purpose a supply pipe I is extended down through .the overflow pipe K, and the lower end where it emerges from said overflow pipe it'is jointed at I to a section of the pipe I extending to the air intake pipe of the carbure'ter. At some point in the vapor supply pipe I, I it is preferably provided with a priming cock I although this is optional.

In the usual equipment of motor car plants, the overflow pipe K may be of a diameter which is smaller than would accommodate the proper size vapor supply pipe, and where this is: the case, it is preferred to provide an overflow pipe offenlarged diameter andv thisoverfiow pipe may be conveniently installed by insertion through theusual filling cap opening L and held in place by clamping nuts and washers which form a water-tight connection so as to prevent theleakage of water from the radiator. As a preferred equipment, the vapor supply pipe is itself covered by a heat insulating cover indicated in dotted lines,

To insure the proper admission and admixture of the hotvapor and its control, the usual or a specially provided air supply pipe M leading to the carburetor and preferably having its [intake end in proximity'to the exhaust manifold is provided withan in ternal valve located .above or on the outer sideofthe discharge nozzle I of the vapor supply pipe. Thisvalve is controlled man;- ually from the drivers seat and by opening itmore or less the degree of vacuum created in the air intake pipe may be regulated and the relative proportion of hot vapor from the water supplytank or radiator will be correspondingly controlled, inasmuch as its flow will depend upon the suction to which its discharge end is'subjected.

The preferred and most efficient arrangement shown in detail in Fig. 3 of the accompanying drawings, wherein it will be seen that the air supply pipe M corresponds in form and construction to the usual air supply pipe, and within itI locate the means for augmenting the mixing of the hot vapor and air, preferably formed by a cylindrical body N having a tapered lower end N from the apex of which the nozzle I of the vapor supply pipe projects, the said nozzle being preferably curved when the device is located at the elbow of the air pipe as shown in the said figure of the drawings. The conical or tapered portion of the cylindrical body N is also provided with a series of air admission openings N through which the air is forced to travel and where by the air currents will be broken up to insure a thorough mixing of'the vapor with the air before the air reaches the carbureter and before the fuel vapor combines therewith, it being one of'the features of the present invention that the hot. vapor and air are combined prior to the combination of'the carbureterfuel with the air. The cylindrical body N, preferably cone-shaped, at its upper end is'provided with a series of apertures it, andis adapted to support and to fit snugly against a rotary valve 0, also cone-shaped, having a corresponding ser es of apertures 0 therein. 'VVhen the apertures in'the head of themirer and valve are in registry there is in operation no increased obstruction to the flow of air through the air intake pipe. This however, be regulated by opening or closing the valve through the medium of a projecting arm 0 and a flexible connection 0 extending back to a convenient handle 0 on the steering wheel post P, so as to give any. desired resistance and consequently any desired vacuum in the air intake pipe, with the result that accurate control of the relative proportions of air and hot vapor which will be admitted to the carbureter is possible. As a constructive detail, the pipe I preferably extends aX-' ially through the cylindrical body N and serves as the pivot for the valve 0. hold this valve down to its seat, a spring 0, is located above the same and'between it and a collar o 'on the pipe I Air is admitted to the top of the radiator or supply chamber througha device preferably attached to and forming a part of i the filler opening cap R, and this device embodies in its construction a visible indicator showing the relative quantity of a r being admitted and consequently the quantity of -hot vapor laden air which is passing from the top of the radiator to the carburetor. The preferred arrangement is shown in its general form in Fig. 1 and in detail in Figs. 5., 6 and 7. It embodies a downwardly projecting inlet pipe R secured in an aperture in the filler cap R and having at its lower end a ball or. other suitable valve R adapted to close for preventing. any outward flow of water or air from the top of the radiator;

T projects to a point within a shield t,

whereby access of dust, etc, is prevented. The upper end of the gage glass fitting T communicates with a horizontal pipe T in communication with the aforesaid branch of the fitting R and in operation the gage glass fitting and branch intake pipe T are adapted to be partly filled with a non volatile transparent oil through which air drawn in through the small perforations t in the end of the branch pipe T will bubble and may be readily observed from the drivers seat. In order to make this portion of the apparatus more effective, it is preferred to locate around the gage glass on the side opposite the v drivers seat a curved and highly polished reflector V, inasmuch as practice has demonstrated that even at night, with such a reflector in position the bubbles of air passing through the clear oil are readily observable, and should, for

any reason, there be a stoppage or cessation of the action of the device, the quiescent con dition of the'oil will attract attention. By providing an adjustable valve S, the proportion of air which passes in through the branch pipe T may be accuratelyregu way for the visible indicator is made dependent upon the conditions existing in the air intake pipe at a point in advance of the carbureter. 1

As a matter of convenience in construction, the guard t for protecting the end of the branch inlet piping T is formed of the pipe T and extended down on opposite sides of the flattened end of the branch pipe T", thus leaving the small inlet openings 6 free from obstruction, and at the,

same time protecting them against the entry of dirt, or the branch pipe T against injury or lateral deflection.

lVhile some air'may enter the upper por tion of the radiator or supply tank through the overflow pipe, yet the length of thispipe and the small area around the vapor a piece of sheet metal which is bent around pipe seems to obstruct suchfflow to a degree where the volume of 'air so entering is of no material consequence, a' practical device in a long continued use having shown that the indicator mechanism operates with certainty and efficiency under the I exact conditions illustrated and described, but at the same time it should be borne in mind that the entry of air through this source should be restricted to a oint-where the ends described will be attained,"although it. is not believed that any valve mechanism isessential to attain the result.

With the device-of the present invention it is foundthatythere is a material" saving in the fuel consumption and an increased power from the engine, a definitely cooler engine, and relative freedom from'icarbon deposit. In fact, the operation of the device seems to produce constant and stable conditions closely approximating" the con-f ditions which every driver has observed'to exist during damp weather or in the damp cool of the evenings, when aqueousvapor is present in large percentage in the air fed to the carbureter. Furthermore, the stream of warm vapor passing throughthe carbureter keeps the carbureter at a constant temperature winter and summer. The constant agitation and bubbling of the clear oil in the indicator not only serves a useful function in that the driver may by observing the violence of the agitation determine the. way in which the device is functioning, but it adds an attractive feature to the motor vehicle itself in the nature of an ornament which is in constant motion while the engine is running.

Lastly, if at any time the engine becomes overheated to the point of causing the water in the cooling system to boil, the negative vapor pressure in the radiator becomes positive from steam formation, and the bubbling in the gage will immediately cease. The indicator, therefore, also serves as an accurate and reliable indicator of overheating.

With the arrangement described, it is found that when desirable to reinforce or possibly entirely supplant the fuel supplied through the carbureter, it may be accomplished by having the radiator or tank supplied with volatile combustible such, for example, as kerosene, alcohol, or other fuel. The apparatus may be employed without change where the radiator constitutes the vapor supply chamber, but if a chamber other than the radiator be employed, the pipe connections will lead to it in the same manner as illustrated in connection with the radiator.

What is claimed is: I

1. In a device for supplying hot vapor to internal combustion engines, the combina tion with a carburetor, an air intake pipe to the carburetor, a vapor supplypipe opening into said air intake pipe to the carbureter, and avalve in said airintake pipe onthe outer side of the vapor supply. pipe opening.

2. In a devicefor supplyinghot vaporto internal combustion engines, the combination with a carburetor intake airsupply pipe, a meansmounted in said. airsupply pipe for augmenting the commingling of the air and vapor, a vapor supply pipe for supplying vapor to the air at said mixer, and anair control valve in said supplypipe for regulatingthe quantity of air passing to the .commingling augmenting means.

8. In a device forsupplying hot vapor to internal combustion engines, the combination with a vapor. supply chamber an air intake pipe for supplying air to the canbureter, of a valve locatedjin said intake pipe for controlling the flow of air therethrough, a' vapor supply pipe opening into said air supply :pipe on the innerside of the valve, manually operable means for controlling the opening andclosingjof the valve, whereby. the relative proportions of air and hot vapor may be regulated, and means for vis: ually indicating the volume of air supplied to the vapor supply chamber.

4:. In a device for supplying hot vapor to internal combustion engines, the combination with an air intake pipe for supplying air to the carbureter for creating a fuel mixture, of a mixing augmenting means mounted in said air supply pipe and having an apertured and tapered inner end, a vapor supply pipeopening in proximity to the apex of the tapered end of the mixing augmenting means, and a manually controlled air regulating valve located in said air intake pipe on the outer side of the mixing augmenting means and vapor supply pipe opening.

5. In a device for supplying hot vapor to internal combustion engines, the combina tion with an air intake pipe for supplying air to a carbureter to form a fuel mixture, a mixing augmenting means mounted in said air supply pipe, a vapor supply pipe having its inlet nozzle located in proximity to the inner part of; the mixing augmenting means, a manually controlled valve embodying an apertured member mounted at the outer end of the mixing.v augmenting means, and a spring for permanently holding said valve to its seat.

6. The combination with a motor vehicle power plant embodying an engine, radiator and water circulating system including the radiator, of a vapor supply pipe leading from the top of the radiator to-the engine intake pipe, and an air inlet mechanism associated with the top of the radiator and embodying an intake pipe having a non-return valve therein and a gage glass visible from the drivers seat, with means whereby incoming air is directed to the bottom ofsaid gage glass, anda non-volatile oil located in said gage glass whereby it will be agitated by the incoming air-and theentrance ofthe lattermay be observed by the driver of the Vehicle. 7 a 7. The combination with a motor vehicle power plant embodying an engine, radiator and circulating water system, of a vapor supply pipe leading from the top of the radiator to the engine intake, a fillerlopening, a cap for said opening, and an air intake associated with said cap and embodying'a supply duct leading through the cap, a gage glass in communication with said, supply duct at its upper end, means for-directing incoming air to the bottom of the gage glass, and a clear oil held in said gage glass and through which the incoming air is caused to bubble. V

8. In a devicesuch as described, the combination with a filler cap for a motor vehicle radiator, of an air intake mechanism embodying an inlet" duct passing through said filler cap, a gage glass in communication at its upper end with said inlet pipe,

ing to the radiator, a non-return valverin the inlet pipe, and means for conducting heated vapor from the top of the radiator to the intake pipe ofthe engine; v

9. In a device such as described,-the combination with a filler opening cap of a motor vehicle radiator from*which radiator hot vapor .is supplied to the engine, of an intake pipe passing through the radiator cap, a non-return valve 1n said 'pipe, a valved inlet to the pipe, a branch inlet to thepipe embodying a gage glass communicating at itsupper end with the inlet pipe, an upwardly directed branch inlet pipe having its inlet openings above the'level of the gage glass, a shield protecting the inlet openings'of the'br'anch pipe, and a transparent oil located inthe gage glass and upwardly directed branch inlet pi e.

. p v BEVERLY DOUGLAS. o v 

